The Assessment of Imagery Scales as Potential Predictors of the Effectiveness of Thermal Biofeedback Training

Based on the theories pioneered by Sargent, Green, and Walters (1972) in the treatment of migraine headaches, this study has examined the relationship between imagery skills and thermal biofeedback abilities. A counterbalanced design was used to train subjects to cool and warm their hands. They were also given four imagery tasks - the Betts QMI, Verbalizer-Visualizer questionnaire, Paivio's Task, and Block Design task. The results indicated that subjects were capable of controlling hand temperature changes, and subjects trained initially in cooling were more effective at subsequent hand warming, positive transfer. No transfer was found from warming to cooling. Of the imagery tasks, the Block Design task was the only predictor of thermal biofeedback ability, Square = 0.177. Further research is warranted into changing thermal training procedures to hand cooling first and then hand warming , and examining, more extensively, the relationship that imagery scales have as predictors of treatment potentials for individuals with migraine headaches.